Lavish lifestyles sign of corruption, says Dr M
BY AKIL YUNUS
THE STAR
KUALA LUMPUR: A lavish lifestyle of a politician or senior official should be considered sufficient ground to be investigated for corruption, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad(pic).
"Lavish lifestyle should be sufficient to take action against those suspected of corruption. Only then will there be a lesser chance for people in high places to be corrupt.
"Unfortunately, for the court of law, that does not count as evidence," Dr Mahathir said in his keynote address at the second annual Malaysia's War on Corruption Symposium, here, on Wednesday.
The former premier of 22 years said the 'big fish' was always able to hide their corrupt activities, not being subjected to the same laws as others.
"So the only way to detect corruption at the top is to see the person's way of life. If he has a big car and big house.
"Corrupt people will have to spend their corrupt earnings because if you keep the money locked away and then you die, what's the point?" he said.
Dr Mahathir said the problem with some countries was that people at the very top were in control of the very agencies meant to combat corruption.
"When you know that nobody can take action against you, then the tendency is there to keep taking more and more," he said.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic) has criticised G25 member Tawfik Tun Dr Ismail for his remarks that the group of prominent Malays was not convinced that a replacement for the Prime Minister would do any better.
Dr Mahathir said Tawfik was "entitled to say what he likes."
"Obviously he (Tawfik) came to the meeting with bad intentions. In front of me he even appeared to be supportive but behind me, he says something else," Dr Mahathir said at a symposium on corruption on Wednesday.
Tawfik had revealed in a recent interview that the group met with Dr Mahathir on two separate occasions this year, where the topic of replacing Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was raised.
Tawfik said the group refused to get involved as they wished to remain non-partisan and were not convinced that Najib’s replacement would fare any better.
“We first met Dr Mahathir earlier this year to discuss Islam and the constitution when he broached the subject of a change in leadership.
“I countered by saying: what makes him think replacing Najib would be any better? At that time, Muhyiddin (Tan Sri
Muhyiddin Yassin) was still deputy prime minister,” Tawfik said.
G25 later issued a statement distancing itself from Tawfik, saying his views were his own and did not represent those of the group.
Despite calls for him to work with civil society to fix the current system of government, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic) said his top priority is to replace Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
"I'm very concerned about the first change, which is the change in leadership. Whatever comes after is up to the (next) leader to decide," he told reporters at an anti-corruption symposium on Wednesday.
Dr Mahathir was responding to former Bersih chairman, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, who said on Monday that she was open to working with him "if he is trying to fix the current system of government as opposed to just kicking out one prime minister."
Ambiga said that the whole system needed to be changed beyond replacing Najib as Prime Minister.
Dr Mahathir said his main reason for joining the recent Bersih rally was to pressure Najib to step down.
"My first priority is to get Najib to step down. That is why I joined the (Bersih) demonstration. As for the others, it is up to the majority to decide.
"If they don't like those who fiddle around with the electoral system, then they can throw that person out," he said, referring to Bersih's demand for free and fair elections.
The Government should list down criteria on whether an investigation should be taken to court instead of giving the "absolute discretion" to the Attorney-General, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic).
The former prime minister said Malaysia adopted a system that gave too much power to the A-G in prosecuting wrongdoers, and this was open to abuse.
"When you give that much power to the AG, you are already giving him the power to prosecute and to judge even before a trial has taken place," Dr Mahathir said when officiating a symposium on corruption, here, Wednesday.
He said laws need to be amended to "define the powers of the AG" as he should operate in an impartial manner.
"Under the current system, if the AG sees there is an investigation relating to billions of dollars but involving someone who is above him, he can easily decide that the case shouldn't be taken to court. It is his personal wish.
"What is most necessary is to give the case a certain criteria when deliberating if it should go to court or not," said Dr Mahathir.
KUALA LUMPUR: A lavish lifestyle of a politician or senior official should be considered sufficient ground to be investigated for corruption, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad(pic).
"Lavish lifestyle should be sufficient to take action against those suspected of corruption. Only then will there be a lesser chance for people in high places to be corrupt.
"Unfortunately, for the court of law, that does not count as evidence," Dr Mahathir said in his keynote address at the second annual Malaysia's War on Corruption Symposium, here, on Wednesday.
The former premier of 22 years said the 'big fish' was always able to hide their corrupt activities, not being subjected to the same laws as others.
"So the only way to detect corruption at the top is to see the person's way of life. If he has a big car and big house.
"Corrupt people will have to spend their corrupt earnings because if you keep the money locked away and then you die, what's the point?" he said.
Dr Mahathir said the problem with some countries was that people at the very top were in control of the very agencies meant to combat corruption.
"When you know that nobody can take action against you, then the tendency is there to keep taking more and more," he said.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic) has criticised G25 member Tawfik Tun Dr Ismail for his remarks that the group of prominent Malays was not convinced that a replacement for the Prime Minister would do any better.
Dr Mahathir said Tawfik was "entitled to say what he likes."
"Obviously he (Tawfik) came to the meeting with bad intentions. In front of me he even appeared to be supportive but behind me, he says something else," Dr Mahathir said at a symposium on corruption on Wednesday.
Tawfik had revealed in a recent interview that the group met with Dr Mahathir on two separate occasions this year, where the topic of replacing Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was raised.
Tawfik said the group refused to get involved as they wished to remain non-partisan and were not convinced that Najib’s replacement would fare any better.
“We first met Dr Mahathir earlier this year to discuss Islam and the constitution when he broached the subject of a change in leadership.
“I countered by saying: what makes him think replacing Najib would be any better? At that time, Muhyiddin (Tan Sri
Muhyiddin Yassin) was still deputy prime minister,” Tawfik said.
G25 later issued a statement distancing itself from Tawfik, saying his views were his own and did not represent those of the group.
Despite calls for him to work with civil society to fix the current system of government, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic) said his top priority is to replace Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
"I'm very concerned about the first change, which is the change in leadership. Whatever comes after is up to the (next) leader to decide," he told reporters at an anti-corruption symposium on Wednesday.
Dr Mahathir was responding to former Bersih chairman, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, who said on Monday that she was open to working with him "if he is trying to fix the current system of government as opposed to just kicking out one prime minister."
Ambiga said that the whole system needed to be changed beyond replacing Najib as Prime Minister.
Dr Mahathir said his main reason for joining the recent Bersih rally was to pressure Najib to step down.
"My first priority is to get Najib to step down. That is why I joined the (Bersih) demonstration. As for the others, it is up to the majority to decide.
"If they don't like those who fiddle around with the electoral system, then they can throw that person out," he said, referring to Bersih's demand for free and fair elections.
The Government should list down criteria on whether an investigation should be taken to court instead of giving the "absolute discretion" to the Attorney-General, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic).
The former prime minister said Malaysia adopted a system that gave too much power to the A-G in prosecuting wrongdoers, and this was open to abuse.
"When you give that much power to the AG, you are already giving him the power to prosecute and to judge even before a trial has taken place," Dr Mahathir said when officiating a symposium on corruption, here, Wednesday.
He said laws need to be amended to "define the powers of the AG" as he should operate in an impartial manner.
"Under the current system, if the AG sees there is an investigation relating to billions of dollars but involving someone who is above him, he can easily decide that the case shouldn't be taken to court. It is his personal wish.
"What is most necessary is to give the case a certain criteria when deliberating if it should go to court or not," said Dr Mahathir.
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